Tag: Book Reviews

What a beautiful story about finding love after a horrible tragedy. The two main characters, Damon Blackwell and Enzo Moretti, both have lost so much and the guilt and emptiness that surrounds them every day of their life is enormous.

Fate steps in and places these two beautiful men in the same place, at the same time, and what they learn from one another is life-changing. Not only do they have each other to lean on, these two “straight” men fall hard. The author handles that with patience and trust and awe, but the outcome is still incredibly hot!

Riley Hart does an outstanding job showing what happens to family in the aftermath and how it’s possible to find clarity and get to a better place when the right person is there to guide you.

Enzo and Damon’s story, individually, is equally heartbreaking. These two are simply perfect for one another. Five stars for me!

Gino and Benny’s story is heart wrenching—some of the most beautiful ones are though. If I had to pick certain sections or quotes throughout their story, I’d be highlighting the whole book. It’s just THAT good.

After being bounced around the foster system as a kid, Gino does whatever he needs to make his way in life. Gino is stunningly gorgeous but constantly makes the wrong choices when it comes to trusting the right people. Gino has love and sex completely confused. This poor guy thinks by screwing around with so many guys, hopefully one of them will like him and want to stick around. He acts like he’s the happiest guy on earth when inside he’s dying.

~ I ended the call, Benny pleading with me to talk to him. With the pillow rolled under my head, I closed my eyes, hoping I wouldn’t wake up. ~ Gino

My heart completely shattered and it was torture to watch Gino’s path of self-destruction.

Benny is the sweetest and kindest man, but life has also been cruel to him. He takes care of his sister to make sure she’s safe from their wretched stepfather while Benny’s at work. His lack of confidence and self-esteem casts shadows over him every day, but after being bullied, abused, and knocked down his whole life, how could it not?

Benny loves Gino. It physically hurt my heart to feel his love for Gino and how he simply couldn’t express himself. The two of them are so beat up and damaged by their past that they still carry it on their shoulders every day. No one should have to take on such despair.

Felice Stevens is the queen of angst and hopelessness and the power of love. Her readers can’t help but to fall madly in love with her characters as we watch them through voyeur’s eyes suffer, flounder, or are completely at sea when it comes to helping
themselves. The best part, though, every single time, is not only how they navigate their way to a better life, one they truly deserve, but who helps them get there.

Fortunately for Benny and Gino, some of Felice’s intelligent and caring and persuasive characters have thrown them their life preservers to save them and help them find their way.

Jeremy Strauss (Perfect) is the owner of Hard Core Fitness and their boss. He is the most vital influence and support system for Benny and Gino. Jeremy is selfless in his daily attempts to mentor and make the two believe that they matter and they’re so much more if they’d just believe in themselves. He’s also smart enough to know when professional help is needed and suggests they seek out his brother’s help.

Noah Strauss (One Call Away) is Jeremy’s brother, a former model, and a psychologist with his own radio talk show who understands first hand what Gino is going through having been a victim while in the modeling business himself. He’s kind, approachable, and never fails the two with the words of advice he offers. When Benny needs legal counsel, Noah offers the law practice of his husband, Oren.

Oren Leavitt (One Call Away) and Ash Davis (A Walk Through Fire) omg … yes, Ash people—take on Benny’s custody case involving his sister. When Ash opens up about his brutal past in the foster care system, it knocks the wind out of Gino.

My point here is that these men and their experiences throughout each of their lives have several common denominators in some way with Gino or Benny. They have helped Gino and Benny find their happily ever after because they all know themselves the hell they went through to get to heaven. This is magnificent world building within Felice Stevens’ books.

I swear that every new release is better than the last, but in reality, that’s just not true. All of them are equal treasures. Grab a box of tissues and a bottle of wine, then treat yourself to another Felice Stevens’ masterpiece. Five stars aren’t enough.

As a forty-one-year-old mother of three boys, working two jobs, Marya Berger doesn’t have the time or energy to consider a relationship. Especially after a lifetime of poor choices in the romance department. But when the disappearance of a young boy strikes a little too close to home, and a younger man she’s tried to ignore offers his help, she doesn’t stand in the way.

Single father, Dylan Barnes, the junior member of the La Plata County FBI team at thirty-three, has his focus firmly on his job and his son, Max. He’s certainly not looking to complicate his life, when he finds himself at his son’s soccer game, sitting beside the spirited brunette he can’t get out of his mind. Fate, however, appears to have different plans.

When an unspeakable crime draws the attention of the FBI, Dylan finds himself torn between his job and his instinctive need to protect Marya and her boys.

Available in Kindle Unlimited

10-Code knocked the wind out of me. This story was chaotic, frightening, heart wrenching, and quite important.

Marya Berger is a single mom who is raising three boys ages 8-13. She does the best she can and is lucky to have her mom nearby to give her a much-needed hand. Marya works two jobs and doesn’t have an easy life but truly loves her boys.

Dylan Barnes is an FBI agent who we’ve met in a few of Freya’s other books. He’s a single dad; his son Max is almost eleven years old and as it turns out, Max is also on Marya’s son, Liam’s, soccer team.

The two know each other because she works in Kerry’s bookstore. Kerry’s husband, Damian, is Dylan’s boss.

While watching their boys play soccer, so much is going on: The good stuff? These two are definitely into each other. We also get to meet Dylan’s fabulous mom, Beth, and her husband, Clint. Of course, I couldn’t help but fall in love with those two and how much love they have for Dylan and their grandson, Max.

Now … the rough part of the story stems right from that same soccer field. It’s frightening how something so sinister, horrifying, and evil is lurking around as two boys have been abducted.

There’s a sad but necessary message that shouts loud and clear from pages of 10-Code. I don’t have small children anymore, but those who do should take heed and be vigilant as to what their children are playing on their gaming systems and who they interact with.

This story will leave the reader on the edge of their seat as all the badasses who we love from Freya’s Rock Point series go full out in finding the scum of the earth harming these children. The anxiety and helplessness of everyone is front and center at the very same time Marya and Dylan are forming a brand new … something!

Freya Barker does it again and never disappoints her readers. The storyline blew me away, but the supporting characters bring so much depth that the pages are bursting as one chapter flows perfectly to the next.

10–Code is another gem by the one and only, Freya Barker. Five stars aren’t enough. I can’t recommend this one enough!

Reviewed by Lisa Cullinan ~ Bourbon, bikes, and Books

Freya Barker inspires with her stories about ‘real’ people, perhaps less than perfect, each struggling to find their own slice of happy.

She is the author of the Cedar Tree and Portland, ME Series, the Northern Lights Collection and the Rock Point Series. She is also co-author of the SnapShot Series.

To see Freya’s complete backlist, or to find out what is coming down the pipe, visit freyabarker.com.

Living in Durango, Colorado for the past eighteen years allowed Ollie Rizzo to build her own business and carve out a quiet existence for her and her teenage daughter. She’s used to going it alone. However, their new silver-haired neighbor might present a problem—not only is he handsome—he’s also Durango’s new chief of police; a complication she can’t afford.

For recently widowed Joe Benedetti, the job offer as Durango’s new chief of police came at the right time. With life, the new job, and his two young sons settling into a comfortable routine, he does his best to ignore the beautiful and intriguing woman across the street. Yet when he discovers she’s caught the attention of the FBI, there is no way he can stay away.

Their worlds collide with the appearance of FBI Special Agent Cruz Livingston. The agent has a warning to deliver, one that spins life in Durango out of control, giving Joe a crucial mission—keep Ollie alive.

Freya Barker does it again! Covering Ollie is the second installment from the On Call series and it’s EPIC!

I’m just gonna lay it out there—Joe Benedetti is my new FAVORITE book boyfriend. He’s beyond sexy, bossy, alpha, smart, and takes charge in the bedroom … Well, of course he does; he’s Durango’s new chief of police. If Freya can out do him, I’ll probably pass out.

A widowed father of two boys, Ryder and Mason, Joe Benedetti has an extreme amount of chaos and responsibilities on his plate, both professionally and personally. The way he handles himself, it’s easy to understand why he’s so well-respected and liked. Joe has the perfect mixture of sternness and warmth with his two boys who lost their mom to cancer a little over a year-and-a-half ago.

Joe is lucky that he has Trinny, the seventeen-year-old neighbor who lives across the street as she’s a huge help babysitting his boys. And that leads him to …

Olivia Rizzo is a single mom to Trinny, raising her on her own. Ollie, as she likes to be called, lost part of her leg in a car accident but certainly doesn’t let the disability slow down her life. Ollie is a spitfire and not too much gets past her. If she comes across as bossy, her fiery Italian temper combined with eighteen years of being a sole decision-maker and caregiver to her daughter are to blame. She’s had no other choice, not that she’d change a thing when it comes to her Trinny.

Little does Ollie know that her past is gonna catch up with her and trouble is on its way. Luckily, she has Durango’s chief of police to protect her and Trinny, and boy does he! Joe, along with Cruz Livingston from Susan Stoker’s Police and Fire: Operation Alpha, and the rest of Freya’s Rock Point FBI hotties do what they do best.

Joe and his sons’ lives become entwined with Ollie and Trinny’s, and in doing so, it’s clear they all need one another. All the parts that have been missing in each of their lives are filled to the brim as a new family is created. Joe and Ollie together are as natural as the beautiful gardens she brings to life.

Covering Ollie is another masterpiece. The storyline is so well-written and filled with lots of twists and turns and suspense. There’s the perfect balance of steamy, sexy times, heartfelt family moments, and funny and sassy banter. The supporting cast never fails to make every single one of Freya’s books a literary candy store, adding a kaleidoscope of color and depth that spills from the pages, and this one is no exception.

And … I just have to reiterate … Joe Benedetti ROCKED MY WORLD. He is the ultimate swoon-worthy alpha M.A.N.—just ask Ollie, she’ll tell ya ~

I say it every single time, but Freya Barker is the BEST storyteller of our time. Her books are treasures, sure to be read over and over again. Five stars for me! A must read ~

New York Times and USA Today Best Seller L. Wilder brings readers a new addition to the Satan’s Fury Memphis series.

Murphy’s Law- Anything that can go wrong will go wrong.

As Satan’s Fury’s sergeant-at-arms, it was my job to stay one step ahead. It was up to me to make sure the club was ready when things went awry. I had to anticipate our enemies’ every move and plan accordingly. I couldn’t let Murphy’s Law bite me in the a*, so I created a set of rules to follow.

I thought they’d prepare me for anything, but I was wrong. Nothing could’ve prepared me for Riley Nichols—the farmer’s daughter with coal-black eyes and a fiery tongue. She took me by surprise, mesmerizing me with her strength and tempting me with her innocence.

I wanted to make her mine, but having her meant breaking my rules—every last one of them.

Murphy is book four of the Satan’s Fury MC- Memphis Chapter. While this book is a continuation of book 3, it can be read as a standalone. Murphy is a full-length novel is intended for mature audiences only due to the explicit language and violence. Contains no cheating and a swoon-worthy HEA.

I’ve always loved Leslie Wilder’s books—each and every one of them. This series, Satan’s Fury MC-Memphis, is a spinoff that takes us across the country from Cotton, Stitch, and the rest of the Washington State chapter to another Satan’s Fury chapter located in, well, Memphis, Tennessee. Murphy is the fourth installment and it ROCKS!

First of all, let me just say that Leslie Wilder doesn’t sugarcoat anything in this spinoff series. Each installment is raw, has a bit more violence, and is sexy-as-hell with one common denominator: don’t f%#k with Satan’s Fury and those they love. The outlaw MC life is a tough one, and there’s a reason the Fury reign supreme in the South.

Murphy is the Memphis chapter’s sergeant-at-arms and takes his job seriously, always worrying and planning ahead when it comes to his club’s best interests. His road name even stems from Murphy’s Law: anything that can go wrong will go wrong. And so it does …

The last installment, Riggs, was a complete jaw-dropping, on-the-edge-of-your-seat, heart-wrenching story that although it wasn’t a cliffy, it needed, no, it deserved more of an explanation as to how the fallout effected the club. Leslie gives it to us with guns ablazin’, perfectly told from Murphy’s POV. Nothing breaks the bonds of the brotherhood of Satan’s Fury MC.

As I mentioned above, Murphy has his own set of laws and puts a lot of pressure on himself to keep them all in check, but if he thinks getting involved with someone and falling in love is one he’ll abide, he’s just wrong—so very wrong.

Enter Riley Nichols. Smart, pretty, sassy, and not very good at handling her Long Island iced teas. Riley lives with her dad and her brother, Hunter, on their horse-breeding farm. Her mom is gone, a cancer victim, and that fact plays a big part in the storyline. In addition to the expenses that come along with breeding horses, Riley’s dad had spent a fortune trying to get the best care for his wife, including experimental treatments—anything to make her healthy. I think it’s safe to say that any one of us in that position would move heaven and earth for our loved ones. Unfortunately, the bills that add up can easily became insurmountable, leaving a huge financial burden on those left behind.

Maybe selling illegal guns is a lucrative business for cartels, gangbangers, and MCs, but it sure isn’t the kind of trouble that an upstanding farm owner wants to get himself involved with. It’s because of this that Riley and Murphy meet. Boy, do things start to heat up between the two even though Riley’s dad has vehemently ordered his daughter to stay away from Murphy and his MC—Pfft! What twenty-four-year-old woman is going to listen anyway!

Things go wrong for Mr. Nichols. Very wrong. Murphy has told him from the very beginning how it could all go south. The MC isn’t the only buyer who Mr. Nichols is dealing with, but they’re the first call he makes for help when Riley goes missing. I guess good ol’ Mr. Nichols shouldn’t judge a book by its cover. After all, he himself is a walking contradiction.

So, as the situation goes from bad to worse, the results aren’t pretty, especially when Murphy’s girl, Riley, is in trouble and Satan’s Fury gets involved.

What. A. Story!! Like the others before it, this segment is also action packed, deeply heart felt, funny at times (the banter between club members is priceless!), with just enough steam. The whole cast of characters are brilliant, each adding so much depth to the storyline. I love that we still can enjoy the guys from the Washington chapter and how they interact with one another. It was so cool to “see” both chapter presidents, Cotton and Gus, taking care of business together.

~~When I walked in, I found Cotton and Gus having a drink. They were in a deep discussion and hadn’t noticed that I’d come into the room. I stood there for a moment, appreciating the fact that I was in the presence of two living legends as they sat there talking. They were both known for leading their clubs with an iron fist, neither of them backing down when faced with adversity. Instead, they faced it with strength and determination. They both had balls of steel, and never showed a moment’s hesitation when it came to protecting the brotherhood. There wasn’t a brother around who’d ever question their loyalty to the club, and I was grateful for the opportunity to work alongside them. When Gus noticed me standing in the doorway, he motioned me over and said, “Hey, brother. Come have a beer.” ~~

Murphy and Riley are great together. I love when a female lead is strong yet understanding of her role within the MC world. These two truly compliment each other, and I‘m glad Murphy’s laws cracked just enough and allowed him to get the girl! Phenomenal read!! Five stars for me!!!!!

SYNOPSIS: A small town, a new arrival, and a love that is as undeniable as it is unlawful…

Victoria, Australia, 1891

Anglican priest Matthew Ottenshaw receives his first posting in tiny Dinbratten, two days’ ride from his Melbourne home. Determined to honour his calling as best he can, he throws himself into the footy mad, two-pub town, navigating the dusty streets, learning the gossip, and striking up a friendship with Jonah Parks, the resident police sergeant and local bona fide hero.

A police officer and a priest often find themselves needed at the same place, and Jonah and Matthew’s friendship deepens quickly, as they set about their business of protecting the bodies and souls of Dinbratten’s residents. When a bushfire threatens the town, and Matthew’s inexperience with fire endangers the church buildings, Jonah comes to the rescue, and a reckless kiss in the midst of the chaos takes their friendship to forbidden.

Neither Matthew nor Jonah can go back to the way things were before, but continuing their relationship puts everything at risk: their jobs, their friends, even their lives. In the outback town of Dinbratten where everyone knows everything about everyone else, how can they ever expect to keep a secret this explosive?

I have to say ByTheCurrawong’sCall is one of the best books that I’ve EVER read.
This story is set in rural Victoria, Australia, in the late 1800s. A handsome young Anglican priest, Matthew Ottenshaw, takes up residence in the tiny town of Dinbratten and is pleasantly accepted by everyone in town, especially the ladies (much to his disinterest).
Father Matthew makes it his mission to get to know all the townsfolk, including Sergeant Jonah Parks, one of the two coppers in town.

Jonah Parks is a legend and a hero to everyone around him. He is personable, brave, well-respected and, on top of it all, quite handsome and sought after by the local lasses as well. These two strike up a friendship that is, just that—a friendship. Jonah and Matthew become the dynamic duo it seems, leaving the town of Dinbratten in the best of hands. Fighting crime and saving souls, one would be surprised as to how closely their jobs become entwined.

And then one night, they become entwined. It’s frightening and confusing, especially for Father Matthew. There is so much at stake—no, let me make it clear: there is EVERYTHING at stake for these two pillars of this small town to continue their clandestine affair because homosexual relationships in the late 1800s in Australia are against the law. They’re gravely at risk carrying on in such a small town.

The author does an outstanding job giving the reader a full picture of life in this time period. Instantly, I was transported into the pages, my mind’s eye so clearly watching the footy games, the brushfire behind the church, the trotting of horses, the dust and grime of the dry season, the sounds and cheers in the pubs, and most importantly, I could feel the love and angst between Matthew and Jonah so deep within my soul.

Once the first page of this treasure is turned, I’d feel certain that anyone would have trouble putting it down. I couldn’t. ByTheCurrawong’sCall is perfectly written and the editing is flawless. The chapters flow like a warm breeze. Jonah and Matthew become part of your soul. It’s about history. It’s about cherishing everything that is right in this world and the grieving and the sadness of what isn’t. How could loving someone, no matter their gender, be so wrong? Jonah and Matthew are my heroes.

I would implore everyone who loves M/M romance and finding and fighting for true love to read this work of art. Five stars just aren’t enough.

Book Four: Over and AgainIt’s been a hell of a year in New York City. Detective Cohen Bailey is determined to put Jake Bartlett, the last remaining threat, behind bars for good. To do that, he’s going to need all the help he can get. Their team is still reeling from almost losing two of their own and Cohen knows that if there was ever a chance to prove himself, this is it.

Brock Hart is a pinch-hitter for the Department of Justice, a mobile asset that moves with the big cases and steps in to clean up messes when they occur. Prosecuting isn’t all done in the courtroom, and Brock’s got a personal connection of his own to this particular case. Detective Cohen Bailey is attractive, competent and more importantly, half Brock’s age. Brock’s better off sticking to his long-time no-strings arrangement than risking it all on Cohen.

The more they dig into the web surrounding Bartlett, the more certain they become that there’s something bigger going on. Neither of them have the time to fall into bed together, let alone fall in love, but if there’s anything Brock’s learned it’s that sometimes, the best choices are the ones you don’t mean to make.

Over and Again is the final installment and the culmination of this phenomenal series. The books leading up to this one have resulted in an entire NYPD precinct put through an emotional and physical wringer after almost losing two of their own. There’s a constant need to stay vigilant and on high alert as one more psycho, Jake Bartlett, is still at large and most likely after Police Chief James Carter and US Attorney Derek Moore. These two men have been through a living hell, and their psychological recovery is just as painful as the physical harm done.

Knowing that time is of essence, Detective Daniel Callahan is doing his best to keep their precinct running with everything they’ve got in order to bring in Bartlett. Realizing it’s just not enough, they call in the big guns in the form of Brock Hart, Dept. of Justice. He’s hot as hell, smart, and determined to help nail the last threat to James and Derek.

The guys work relentlessly and leave no stone unturned while trying to find Bartlett. A major asset is Detective Cohen Bailey, who‘s also caught the eye of Brock Hart. I love how Cohen Bailey has really come into his own in this book. He has a lot more confidence and determination in his own abilities to put an end to this whole miserable case. And hot damn, Brock is one lucky guy because Cohen is one hell of an alpha lover—he sure is all grown up now!

There are so many twists and turns and action-packed scenes that had me biting the hell outta my fingernails. The best part of it all is how everyone’s involved in this finale: Derek’s parents, James’s son and girlfriend, Detective Daniel Callahan, who is a rockstar, his boyfriend, Peter, along with Kay and the rest of the entire precinct.

What I truly loved and will greatly miss is the incredible cast of characters Brooke Edwards has created. Each one brings so much to the storyline and they have become a familiar and integral piece no matter how big or small their part.

Over and Again ends just the way it should. Everyone’s gonna be okay because this zany, sarcastic, badass bunch of lovable law folk will make sure of it. No one goes it alone. Loved, loved, loved this series. Ridiculously well written by the amazing Brooke Edwards. Five-bittersweet-stars for me as this wonderful series comes to an end.

James Carter is a career cop who married young, became a widower young, and then his life revolved around his son and his job. Young is a recurring theme, he thinks, when he meets the considerably younger-than-him AUSA Derek Moore. For the first time in years, James finds himself subject to the whims of his heart.The path to love between a hotshot lawyer and a veteran cop was never going to be smooth, not in the real world. Criminals, misunderstandings and a complete lack of communication stand in their way too. Both too stubborn to budge, and utterly convinced that their feelings aren’t reciprocated, James and Derek themselves are the biggest obstacles to their own happiness.A murder case might be just enough to force them to get their act together.

This short story sets up the direction and fills in the background of what you’ll soon find out is a fantastic series. The author provides a lot of info within a limited amount of pages. It’s extremely well-written, and I was very excited to start the next one.

James Carter and Derek Moore fought their way through attraction and misunderstandings to get to where they are today. Sure, they’re still figuring out how to make things work between their careers and families, but their whole world is rose-tinted with the glow of new love.Reality hits with the force of a speeding truck when a criminal starts waging a campaign of terror against the justice system. Suddenly law enforcement officers and lawyers all across the city are living in fear as their careers put them right in the cross-hairs of a deranged killer and James and Derek’s honeymoon period falls to ruins.With James’s protectiveness driving a wedge between them and Derek pulling away as the target on his back grows even bigger, their future is thrown into jeopardy. While Derek struggles with demons from his past, it’s up to James to catch the killer and put them back on the path to their happily ever after.

This installment is a continuation of James and Derek’s story. I think it’s worth saying that this story is as much a crime/murder/mystery as it is a love story.

James Carter is a forty-four-year-old NYPD police chief, whose precinct is filled with colorful, funny, complex, and intelligent co-workers. But now that he’s romantically involved with twenty-nine-year-old US Attorney, Derek Moore, his life has been turned upside down even more so when Derek becomes the main focus of a madman’s obsession. James’s sole concern is to keep his guy safe, but that proves to be a daunting task as the two stumble and flounder while attempting to navigate the uncertainty of a new relationship when there’s a killer out there!

I love the author’s writing style. It’s similar to watching a movie or a TV crime show. Each scene feels like the camera is fading to black, and I can’t help but think of the two musical beats used in Law and Order.

This series is something else! The cast of characters, no matter how big or small a part they play, add a perfect balance, resulting in a storyline filled to the brim with creative dialogue and painstaking attention to detail. The sex scenes are non-existent but are left to the readers’ imagination through teases of playful or sensual caresses and images of clothing strewn and tangled sheets. I highly recommend this series and can’t wait to start the next one. A Five-Star read for me.

In the aftermath of a psychopath’s obsession-fuelled murder spree through New York, Detective Daniel Callahan feels like he’s been hit by a wrecking ball. It turns out that watching your best friend and your boss fall in love only to nearly lose it all takes a toll on a guy’s emotional stability. Peter Saracen has an out-of-control crush on the belligerent detective who seems to want nothing more than to toss him into a cell and throw away the key. When the body of an unidentified gang member is pulled from the East River and an old nemesis breaks out of prison, Peter finds himself on a whole new collision course with Daniel.The line between personal and professional begins to blur. The dangers of the present take aim at the fragile possibility of Daniel and Peter’s happily-ever-after, while ghosts of the past threaten the deepening bond between Daniel’s boss James Carter and Assistant US Attorney, Derek Moore. With everything against them, there might not be any coming back from this.

Loved this story of Peter Saracen and Daniel Callahan, the NYPD detective who Peter has been obsessed with for some time now. Peter puts himself in harm’s way by nosying around crime scenes and winds up needing protection. As the situation escalates between a killer at large and James’s man, Derek, the whole precinct is on edge, rightfully so.

Peter seems to be a balm to Daniel’s rough edges and worms his way into his heart. Again, this installment (or episode!) is action-packed and keeps the reader on the edge of their seat. No single person is truly front and center as Brooke Edwards does another outstanding job bringing in the whole cast. Positively crazy about this series and can’t wait for the next. Again … another Five-Star read!

All books in this series have been reviewed by Lisa Cullinan of Bourbon, Bikes, and Books ~

The entire series is exclusive to Amazon and Kindle Unlimited.

AuthorBio:

Brooke Edwards is an Australian LGBTQ+ author and dreamer, slowly working her way through the stories that keep demanding (loudly) to be told. She’s hopelessly obsessed with procedural law enforcement shows, flawed human beings and coffee – not necessarily in that order.

A hybrid author, Brooke’s first books were released through Dreamspinner Press in 2015 and 2016, followed by self-published ventures in 2017 and onwards.

A “tender romance” (Publishers Weekly): When Matt meets fellow Navy SEAL trainee Shane, he’s instantly drawn to the sexy Marine vet. Their chemistry is undeniable, but can the two men overcome personal and professional obstacles for a chance at true love?

SYNOPSIS:

BUD/S: six months of the most intense training there is. It’s survival of the toughest, and Matt Knytych is determined to come out the other side a navy SEAL.

Distraction is life or death. And just the sight of former marine Shane Hovland is enough to shake Matt’s concentration.

Shane came to BUD/S training ready to prove himself–again. Semper Fi is forever, but he needs a new start. Not this dangerous heat with a man he barely knows.

Everything they’ve ever wanted is riding on a thin, punishing line. And they’ll have to fight for more than just each other if they want to make it through intact.

After all, the only easy day was yesterday.

This book is approximately 77,300 words

One-click with confidence. This title is part of the Carina Press Romance Promise: all the romance you’re looking for with an HEA/HFN. It’s a promise!

4 Hooyah!! Stars

Loving a Warrior is the first book in this series by Melanie Hansen. This is actually my first book by this author, but it certainly not be my last. I loved the slow burn, very low angst military story.

Shane and Matt literally run into each other the day before they start training for a chance to become a Navy SEAL. At first, it is awkward, but they soon develop a friendship of sorts, to push each other through training.

The author does include details of all the training, to show that these men just can’t go to a bar and grab a beer and watch the game. The training is beyond intense. The physical endurance and mental fortitude it takes to takes to become a SEAL is incredible. These men are pushed beyond human limitations. When they do have down time, they are still training on their own.

Yes, this is a slow burn romance, but that absolutely worked for me. Seeing how their friendship grew with patience and trust because of their training, was perfect. Both Matt and Shane were very likable. Shane was funny and outgoing, where Matt was more quiet and liked to think everything through, but they knew what each other needed. When they finally do get together, it is explosive.

I thoroughly enjoyed this one and I can’t wait to get my hands on the next book in the series, Keeping the Warrior.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher/Net Galley, in exchange for an honest review.

Great review by fellow blogger and good friend, Diana Murphy, of Turning Pages at Midnight Book Blog ~ Goodreads ~